The Town FilesDelavan, Illinois
City in Tazewell County · population 1,568 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $123,600
- Household income
- $62,841
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 39
- Median age
- 38.1
Delavan is a city of 1,568 people in Tazewell County, Illinois. The median home is worth $123,600, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 98% of Illinois towns.
How Delavan ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Delavan is worth $123,600, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $62,841, which is more affordable than 61% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $876 a month. 75.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Delavan | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $123,600 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $876 | $960 |
| Median household income | $62,841 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 75.3% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Delavan
| People | Delavan | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 11.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 29.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Delavan
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 16.2°F. About 39.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Delavan since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 10, 2003 about 9.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 99 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 10, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 3.75 inches on August 18, 2001.
Severe weather in Tazewell County since 1996
Tazewell County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| November 26, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Tazewell County
Tazewell County had 46,883 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,089 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Delavan itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Public schools in Delavan
3 public schools with 406 students, about 10.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delavan Elementary School | PK-6 | 209 | 10.0 |
| Delavan High School | 9-12 | 138 | 10.6 |
| Delavan Jr High School | 7-8 | 59 | 11.8 |
Towns near Delavan
- Green Valley, IL5.7 mi · 630 people · home $115,900
- Hopedale, IL7.4 mi · 830 people · home $144,700
- South Pekin, IL10.3 mi · 996 people · home $106,400
- Tremont, IL11.1 mi · 2,277 people · home $187,400
- Manito, IL12.8 mi · 1,552 people · home $112,600
- Minier, IL13.0 mi · 1,154 people · home $148,400
- Mason City, IL14.1 mi · 2,077 people · home $91,100
- Pekin, IL14.3 mi · 31,731 people · home $120,700
Delavan questions
Is Delavan, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Delavan scores better for retirees than 37% of Illinois towns and quieter than 63%. 18.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.1).
How much does a house cost in Delavan?
The median owner-occupied home in Delavan is valued at $123,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,841, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $876 a month.
What is the weather like in Delavan?
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 16.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.3 inches of precipitation a year and 20.6 inches of snow.
Does Delavan get tornadoes?
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Delavan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 10, 2003. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)